Education sector

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CUPE represents over 125,600 workers in elementary and secondary schools across Canada in every classification in the school system, except teachers and management, in 411 education bargaining units.

More than half of all education workers across Canada are CUPE members. The proportion ranges from 100 per cent CUPE members in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick to about 15 per cent in Quebec.

We represent the full range of support staff classifications in nearly every province.

About one-third of CUPE education workers work as educational assistants, 25 per cent as custodians, and 13 per cent as school office staff.

Approximately 75 per cent of CUPE members working in schools are women, especially in classifications such as educational assistant, school office, library technician and early childhood educator.

Men tend to predominate in trades and maintenance positions as well as information technology. Fifty-five per cent of CUPE education sector members are over 50 years old, 41 per cent are between 30 and 50 years old, and fewer than five per cent are under 30.